Anode rod clamping assembly

ABSTRACT

A frame carrying a clamping arrangement rests between a pair of support brackets which straddle an anode rod. The frame includes projections which engage in notches in the brackets so that the frame can be physically separated from the brackets to permit removal and replacement of an anode rod and so that the brackets can hold the frame in fixed position when the clamping arrangement is effective. The clamping arrangement includes a carrier block threaded on a vertical screw member and slidably reacting against a vertical reaction surface of the frame. Link arms project forwardly from the carrier block and carry a clamp bar which is guided in the frame. A remotely controlled tool engages the screw member either to separate the frame from the brackets or to rotate the screw member.

United States Patent Roukema et al.

ANODE ROD CLAMPING ASSEMBLY Inventors: Johannes Roukema, Vleuten;

Frederik Noordegraaf, L'eerdam, both of Netherlands B. V. NederlandseKraanbouw Maatschappij, Utrecht, Netherlands Filed: June 7, 1973 Appl.No.: 367,884

[73] Assignee:

US. Cl 204/297 R; 204/225; 204/243 R; 269/91; 269/244 Int. Cl C23b 5/70Field of Search... 204/225, 243 R, 286, 297 R; 269/91, 93, 244

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1960 Allen 204/297 R X 4/1971Morris et al. 204/297 R 12/1971 Duclaux 204/297 R June 10, 1975 PrimaryExaminer-John H. Mack Assistant ExaminerW. 1. Solomon Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Snyder, Brown and Ramik [57] ABSTRACT A frame carrying aclamping arrangement rests between a pair of support brackets whichstraddle an anode rod. The frame includes projections which engage innotches in the brackets so that the frame can be physically separatedfrom the brackets to permit removal and replacement of an anode rod andso that the brackets can hold the frame in fixed position when theclamping arrangement is effective. The clamping arrangement includes acarrier block threaded on a vertical screw member and slidably reactingagainst a vertical reaction surface of the frame. Link arms projectforwardly from the carrier block and carry a clamp bar which is guidedin the frame. A remotely controlled tool engages the screw member eitherto separate the frame from the brackets or to rotate the screw member.

PATENTEDJUH 10 1975 0 m Mm 2 8 2 4 Z I l I I In 5 5 cu H b Q m L s uIlllll: :1 5 Q i M a r 2 I U 3 2. 2 ,N G 3!, k m. G 3, l 6 m k I A v 1 FI? \\I/ F m 1 G II F ANODE ROD CLAMPING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a device for clamping and holdinganode rods in place. In electric furnaces of the type used for theproduction of aluminum by electrolytic reduction of aluminum oxide tothe metal, the furnaces are, as is well known, in the form ofopen-topped troughs into which the aluminum oxide is placed and anoderods in the form of preformed carbon or graphite rods are disposedvertically to project into furnace and, during operation, as the anodematerial is consumed it is necessary periodically to lower the anode rodor rods and ultimately to remove and replace them. It has becomeconventional to provide remote control apparatus to operate the clampingarrangements for the anode rods and physically to lower the anode rodsin the furnace or, alternatively, to remove a spent anode rod andreplace it with a new one.

Clearly, anode rod clamping assembly utilized for purposes describedabove should not only be capable of exerting the substantial clampingforce necessary to hold the anode rod in place but also should becapable of operation. with a minimum of complexity. A clamping device ofthe type to which the present invention pertains is disclosed inapplication Ser. No. 113,944, filed Feb. 9, 1971 now U.S. Pat. No.3,752,465.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is of primary concern in connectionwith the present invention to provide an improved form of. anode rodclamping assembly in which a single member is presented for engagementby the remotely controlled operating tool, such single member beingeffective, when rotated, to control the clamping action and, when liftedupwardly, to serve the function of completely removing operativecomponents of the assembly such that an anode rod may be readily removedand replaced. In conjunction with these objects, the clamping assemblyincorporates a pair of horizontally disposed supporting brackets or armsand an entirely separate frame assembly which is adapted when inoperative position to seat and interengage with the brackets or armssuch that the frame is supported in operative position. The framecarries a clamp assembly which includes a vertically disposed screwthread member which presents the means whereby the clamping action isobtained and whereby the frame and clamp means may be physicallyseparated and removed from the situs of the brackets or arms.

The frame of the device provides a vertical reaction surface againstwhich a carrier member reacts, the carrier having link means associatedtherewith which retract or project a transverse clamp bar into or out ofclamping engagement with an anode bar as the carrier is movedvertically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a top plan view,portions being broken away, illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane ofsection line 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference at this time moreparticularly to FIG. 1, a bus bar associated with the electric cell usedfor the manufacture of aluminum is indicated by the reference character10 and support framework associated with the bus bar is indicated byreference characters 12. The clamping assembly according to the presentinvention comprises a pair of horizontally projecting support bracketsor arms indicated generally by the reference characters 14 and 16 whichare disposed in straddling relationship to that area of the bus bar 10against which an anode rod 18 is adapted to be clamping and fixed.Removably seated for disposition in fixed relation with respect to andbetween the support arms or brackets 14 and 16 is a frame assemblyindicated generally by the reference character 20 and clamp meansindicated generally by the reference character 22 is held captive withinthe confines of the frame 20 in the manner more particularly set forthhereinafter.

The frame consists essentially of a pair of T-shaped elements 24 and 26having respective stem portions 28 and 30 which are received in notches32 (see particularly FIG. 3) in the upper edges of the support arms orbrackets 14 and 16.

A cover plate 34 overlies the members 24 and 26 as shown and is rigidlyaffixed thereto as by welding as illustrated. Disposed in rewardlypositioned relationship within the frame 20 is a transverse frame member36 which is preferably welded both to the cover plate 34 and to themembers 24 and 26 as illustrated and which presents, on its inner orforward face a vertically extending reaction surface 38, the purpose ofwhich will be presently apparent. As can be seen better in FIG. 2, abottom plate member 40 is provided as well as opposite side plates 42and 43 (see FIG. 3) are also provided extending between the oppositesides of the bottom plate 40 to the undersides of the members 24 and 26and all of such component parts are rigidly interconnected as by meansof welding as illustrated. The frame, in addition, is provided at theforward bottom ends of the members 24 and 26 with a bridging guide bar44 which cooperates with the opposed cover plate 34 to provide a guideand retaining means for a transverse clamp bar 46 which is adapted to beretracted as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 2 or extended maximallyto a full clamping position as illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 2.

A screw thread member 48 extends vertically through the frameintermediate the opposite sides thereof and may include an integralthrust washer portion 50 seating on the top surface of the cover plate34 and provided thereabove with a flatted head 52. The opposite end ofthe screw thread member 48 is of re duced cross section as indicated bythe reference character 54 and is unthreaded in this region to project Ithrough a retaining washer 56 which, in cooperation with a pin member 58which projects through the portion 54 serves to allow the entire frameand clamp assembly bodily to be lifted out of its normal seatingrelation within the arms 24 and 26 by a remotely controlled toolengaging the head 52 of the screw thread member 48. This same tool asdescribed hereinafter may be utilized to effect the clamping orunclamping action.

-A carrier block 60 is provided with a vertical through bore which isthreaded and receives the member 48 whereby the rear surface of theblock or carrier 60 may be vertically traversed over the reactionsurface 38 previously mentioned, the dimensioning and disposition of thecarrier 60 being such that its rear face is in close proximity orengagement with the reaction surface 38 at all times. Extending fromopposite sides of the carrier block 60 are a pair of trunnions 62 and 64and the rearward ends of a pair of link arms 66 and 68 pivotally receivethese respective trunnions as will be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2.The forward ends of these link arms 66 and 68 are arcuately notched toseat upon the rear side of the transverse clamp bar 46 and are rigidlyaffixed thereto as by welding. As can be seen, when the carrier 60 is inthe lowermost position as is illustrated in FIG. 2, the clamp bar 46will be withdrawn to the retracted position as shown in full lineswhereas when the head 52 of the screw thread member 48 is rotated thecarrier will be constrained to travel upwardly correspondingly to extendor project the clamp bar 46 utwardly into clamping engagement againstthe anode rod 18. Thus, the high unit bearing pressures necessary forachieving proper clamping action of the anode rod easily is achieved bythe present configuration while, at the same time, the frame and clampassembly may be physically removed from the support brackets 14 and 16to provide a clear path for removal or replacement of an anode rod 18,as may be desired and necessary. The remotely controlled tool whichengages the head 52 to rotate the screw thread member 48 to effectclamping andunclamping may also be used to effect the physicalseparation and removal of the clamp and frame assembly as aforesaid.

What is claimed is:

1. An anode rod clamping assembly for allowing vertical adjustment aswell as removal and replacement of an anode rod of an electric furnacedevice having a bus bar to which the anode rod is clamped when inoperation, said assembly comprising the combination of:

a pair of spaced and horizontally projecting support brackets havingforward ends adapted to be fixed in straddling relation to the area of abus bar against which an anode rod is to be clamped and held;

a frame having means selectively engaging said support brackets forsupporting the frame fixedly between said brackets while allowingvertical movement and complete separation of the frame from thebrackets; and

clamp means captive in said frame for clamping an anode rod against abus bar and including a vertically extending screw thread member toenable both the complete separation of the frame from the brackets andoperation of the clamp means;

said clamp means including a clamp bar and said frame including guidemeans towards the forward ends of said brackets for horizontally guidingsaid clamp bar into and out of engagement with an anode rod;

said frame including a vertical reaction surface disposedin rearwardlyspaced relation to said guide means, and said clamp means including acarrier engaged by said screw thread member and disposed against saidreaction surface, and link means which connects said carrier to saidclamp bar, said link means being movable in response to movement of saidcarrier to increase its angularity with respect to said reactionsurface, as said clamp bar moves horizontally in said guide means toclamp an anode rod, toward a disposition in which his perpendicularthereto.

2. An anode rod clamping assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsupport brackets are each provided with a notch in an upper edge thereofand said frame is provided with T-shaped elements each having a stemreceived in a respective notch.

3. An anode rod clamping assembly for allowing vertical adjustment aswell as removal and replacement of an anode rod of an electric furnacedevice having a bus bar to which the anode rod is clamped-when inoperation, said assemblycomprising the combination of:

a pair of spaced and horizontally projecting support brackets havingforward ends adapted to be fixed in straddling relation to the area of;a bus bar against which an anode rod is to be clamped an d held, saidsupport brackets presenting horizontal, support surfaces and verticalbearing surfaces fac ing said forward ends; I a frame assembly seatedupon said support surfaces and bearing against said bearing surfaceswhereby said frame assembly is capable of being moved along a verticalpath parallel to said anode rod into and out of positionally fixed andinterlocked, supported position on said support brackets; and

clamp means captive in said frame assembly for clamping said anode rodagainst said bus bar, said clamp means including a carrier having athreaded bore and a vertical screw threaded member engaged in said bore,said screw threaded member engaging portion thereof, said clamp meansalso.

including a clamp bar having a cylindrical surface facing and parallelto said anode rod and link means connecting said carrier to said clampbar for urging said cylindrical surface into and out of essentiallylinear contact with said anode rod, and said frame assembly includingguide means for guiding said clamp bar along a horizontal path normal tosaid anode bar and horizontally aligned with said bearing surfaces.

1. An anode rod clamping assembly for allowing vertical adjustment aswell as removal and replacement of an anode rod of an electric furnacedevice having a bus bar to which the anode rod is clamped when inoperation, said assembly comprising the combination of: a pair of spacedand horizontally projecting support brackets having forward ends adaptedto be fixed in straddling relation to the area of a bus bar againstwhich an anode rod is to be clamped and held; a frame having meansselectively engaging said support brackets for supporting the framefixedly between said brackets while allowing vertical movement andcomplete separation of the frame from the brackets; and clamp meanscaptive in said frame for clamping an anode rod against a bus bar andincluding a vertically extending screw thread member to enable both thecomplete separation of the frame from the brackets and operation of theclamp means; said clamp means including a clamp bar and said frameincluding guide means towards the forward ends of said brackets forhorizontally guiding said clamp bar into and out of engagement with ananode rod; said frame including a vertical reaction surface disposed inrearwardly spaced relation to said guide means, and said clamp meansincluding a carrier engaged by said screw thread member and disposedagainst said reaction surface, and link means which connects saidcarrier to said clamp bar, said link means being movable in response tomovement of said carrier to increase its angularity with respect to saidreaction surface, as said clamp bar moves horizontally in said guidemeans to clamp an anode rod, toward a disposition in which it isperpendicular thereto.
 2. An anode rod clamping assembly as defined inclaim 1 wherein said support brackets are each provided with a notch inan upper edge thereof and said frame is provided with T-shaped elementseach having a stem received in a respective notch.
 3. An anode rodclamping assembly for allowing vertical adjustment as well as removaland replacement of an anode rod of an electric furnace device having abus bar to which the anode rod is clamped when in operation, saidassembly comprising the combination of: a pair of spaced andhorizontally projecting support brackets having forward ends adapted tobe fixed in straddling relation to the area of a bus bar against whichan anode rod is to be clamped and held, said support brackets presentinghorizontal support surfaces and vertical bearing surfaces facing saidforward ends; a frame assembly seated upon said support surfaces andbearing against said bearing surfaces whereby said frame assembly iscapable of being moved along a vertical path parallel to said anode rodinto and out of positionally fixed and interlocked, supported positionon said support brackets; and clamp means captive in said frame assemblyfor clamping said anode rod against said bus bar, said clamp meansincluding a carrier having a threaded bore and a vertical screw threadedmember engaged in said bore, said screw threaded member having an upperend projecting through said frame assembly and terminating in atool-engageable portion, said screw threaded member having a portionpreventing downward displacement thereof relative to said frame assemblyand said frame assembly having a vertical reaction surface against whichsaid carrier engages whereby rotation of said screw threaded membercauses said carrier to travel along said reaction surface withoutdisplacing said screw threaded member and in particular saidtool-engaging portion thereof, said clamp means also including a clampbar having a cylindrical surface facing and parallel to said anode rodand link means connecting said carrier to said clamp bar for urging saidcylindrical surface into and out of essentially linear contact with saidanode rod, and said frame assembly including guide means for guidingsaid clamp bar along a horizontal path normal to said anode bar andhorizontally aligned with said bearing surfaces.